Expecting the Wolion to finish me up but the next thing I heard was a loud explosion.
I opened my eyes and I was still in one piece.
The Wolion was disintegrating, its body dissolving into the air like smoke. In front of me stood a figure in a flowing red robe, flames etched into the hem, and fiery red hair that blazed like a banner in the wind. The cold, oppressive aura he radiated made the very air heavy.
He was backing me , he turned slowly
His eyes—those searing red coals—scanned me in silence, pausing briefly at the gash bleeding down my cheek.
He said nothing.
Then, like mist in the morning sun, he vanished.
He turned around without a word and the next thing he disappeared. I looked up at the audience seat and saw Jaden alone frozen in fear hid friends had probably run away out of fear. Who wouldn't Master Ashley rarely made an appearance but when he did it's always a grandeur leaving everyone starstruck.
Jaden snapped back to life and bolted.
The Wolion had already disintegrated and the soul crystal was floating above the spot where it's killed. I stretched my hands towards it and floated into my hands.
I turned it over in my hand staring at it in awe it's a flaming red crystal with the wolions shadow inscription on it .
The Wolion was gone, and in its place hovered a glowing soul crystal, crimson with a flickering silhouette of the beast inside.
I stretched out my hand. The crystal floated gently into my palm.
It was warm—alive with energy.
I stared at it for a long moment… and then everything caught up to me.
The fear. The exhaustion. The pain.
I dropped to my knees, and the world went black.
**NEXT MORNING **
I woke up with a crazy headache that threatened to shatter my head . I sat up then I noticed I was in my room.
" What happened last night" I said painfully rubbing my temples to ease the pain in my head.
Like a gust all the memories of last night flooded in how I almost died and how Master Ashley saved me. It's shocking cus Master Ashley only appeared twice a week to train I and his 5 other remaining trainees naturally As a supreme master he's supposed to have 20 and more disciples but because of the frequent death and disappearance of his disciples.
He'd always been cold to me, treating me like I wasn't worth the effort. Among his six remaining disciples—most A or B rank—I was the weakest. The unwanted one. He beat the others into the dirt without hesitation, but me? He barely looked at me, like I wasn't worth breaking.
So why did he come for me?
I noticed something shiny beside me. The soul crystal. Its red gleam pulsed faintly in the light.
I picked it up and stared. I could absorb it… but instead, I set it aside. It felt like more than just power. It was proof—I survived. A gift.
A knock on the door jolted me out of my thoughts.
Startled, I winced as pain shot through my body.
I forced myself up, every step feeling like broken glass underfoot.
I opened the door.
A junior stood there in a silver uniform, stage five.
"The Principal demands your presence at the Floating Pavilion," he said flatly before turning and walking off.
I froze.
The Floating Pavilion.
Only two reasons you'd get summoned there: you're about to be honored… or punished.
And punishment was far more common.
My skin went cold. My chest tightened.
Still, I shut the door, grabbed a towel, and headed to the shower.
The hot water poured over me, calming the shaking in my hands. I closed my eyes and saw him again—Ashley. That fire-red hair. That distant look. The raw power.
Why did he save me?
" The principal demands your presence at the floating pavilion"
He said without wasting time and left as if in a hurry.
My heart started racing the principal summoning you to the floating pavilion was either a very good thing or a very bad thing.
Most of the time the bad outweighed the good. My whole body started shivering with fear.
Still I closed the door walked back to the bed stripped off my clothes took a towel and headed for the bathroom still stunned.
I turned on the shower the water pouring all over me soothed my nerves calming down I closed my eyes and saw flashes of last night his flowing red robe with flame patterns at the hem that flowing red hair that sparked fire . The cold look in his eyes . I opened my eye startled a bit . I turned off the shower dried myself, dressed up in my usual Silver uniform sleeveless robe and all black Chinese tunic.
Stepping out of the room , I looked back at my scanty cramped up possessions not knowing that'd be the last time I'd see them.
I shut the door and walked towards the floating pavilion with my heart in my mouth.
The floating pavilion is a floating mansion designated for the principals. The courtyard was large with a huge training space the building was completely white and spotless even the statues was white .
The Floating Pavilion
The mansion hovered above the academy like a shrine—silent, elegant, and threatening.
White marble. Immaculate. Even the statues gleamed.
I climbed the floating stairs, heart pounding.
Inside, the Principal sat on his throne. His eyes—ice-cold.
Master Shane stood to his left, that same smug grin on his face. Jaden beside him, trying to look stoic, but his eyes blazed with hate.
On the Principal's right sat Master Ashley. Still. Expression unreadable. Hair flickering like flames. His presence heavier than anyone's.
I bowed low. "You sent for me, sir."
A silent wave of the Principal's hand.
I straightened. Waiting.
Minutes passed.
Then he spoke.
"Yes, Keisa. Master Shane has reported his Wolion missing. Jaden claims he saw you take it last night."
My mouth dropped. "What? That's not true!"
The Principal's tone was like steel. "The rules are clear. Theft is met with severe punishment. Capture another Wolion or face two months suspension."
"I don't even have a spirit!" I snapped. "I couldn't have taken it even if I wanted to!"
"I'm sorry, Keisa," the Principal said, clearly not sorry. "But when choosing between a promising student and a master, the decision is simple."
I looked at them all. The Principal. Master Shane. Jaden.
Liars. Every one of them.
I turned to Master Ashley, hoping—praying—he'd say something.
But he was silent.
That hurt the most.
"I'll accept the suspension," I said finally. My voice calm, but my heart on fire.
Master Shane smiled as if he'd won.
The Principal stood and left with them.
Only Master Ashley remained.
He walked toward me. Slowly. Deliberately.
When he passed, he stopped.
And in a low voice that burned into my soul, he said:
"Get stronger. Unlock your full potential. Only then will your enemies bow before you. Train hard. Extinguish all weakness. Fight—even when there's nothing to fight for."
And then… he was gone.
And that's how I got suspended.